title: A detailed kinetic analysis of rhodium-catalyzed alkyne hydrogenation.
abstract: Continuous monitoring using electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) shows that Wilkinson's catalyst hydrogenates a charge-tagged alkyne to the corresponding alkene, and at only a marginally slower rate, to the alkane. No rhodium-containing intermediates were observed during the reaction, consistent with the established mechanism which points at the initial dissociation of triphenylphosphine from Rh(PPh₃)₃Cl as being the key step in the reaction. A numerical model was constructed that the closely matched the experimental data, and correctly predicted the response of the reaction to the addition of excess PPh₃.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Victoria, P.O. Box 3065, Victoria, BC V8W3V6, Canada.
authors.forename: Jingwei
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Allen G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Oliver
authors.forename: J Scott
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: McIndoe